Note: The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to
princes, dukes, earls, senators, and presiding
magistrates; also to archbishops and bishops, implyingsuperior wisdom or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of
the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all England;
and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and
castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective
districts.
[1913 Webster]

alderman — ► NOUN 1) chiefly historical a co opted member of an English county or borough council, next in status to the Mayor. 2) (also alderwoman) N. Amer. & Austral. an elected member of a city council. DERIVATIVES aldermanship noun. ORIGIN Old English,… … English terms dictionary

alderman — [ôl′dər mən] n. pl. aldermen [ôl′dərmən] [ME &LT; OE ealdorman, chief, prince &LT; eald, OLD + man, MAN] 1. in some U.S. cities, a member of the municipal council, usually representing a certain district or ward 2. in England and Wales before… … English World dictionary